video; un: quibbler | forward-dated to 13/02

[creidim]

cw: minor mentions of war, discussions of possible character death

So, it seems that my Blessed Day is in fact the same day as my birthday.

[ Luna speaks off camera, busy trying to put her Omni in the right place. It takes a couple of moments, but the initial view of Luna's room: all soft lighting, bright but peaceful tones across the space, is finally obscured as Luna steps into the frame to sit at her desk, something in her hand. She waves to the camera with a cheerful smile in greeting before she continues with what she's addressing. With a soft sound, she lugs the item in her hand onto her desk and then carefully holds it up to the camera of her Omni to show it.

It's a sword: the Blade of Agency, to be precise. Luna gazes down at it with faint bemusement; of course Doorway would gift a sword, considering they appear with one at all times. But Luna's... not quite sure what to do with it. She's a Witch, not a sword-swinger. Not that she's ungrateful, and she certainly doesn't mean to come across as that as she stares at the sword. ]

I found this propped up against the wall of my room this morning. A gift from Doorway, my Patron. [ Her head twists one way in thought, brow pinching. It's a fine looking blade, she thinks. Although she's not very knowledgeable in that department. ] It... feels special. I don't think it's just a regular sword.

[ She can't really tell how, though. She should really find some way to find that out before she goes about using it. Ravenclaws err on the side of caution in the face of magic swords. ]

... Although if I'm meant to use it, I've never actually swung a sword before. [ ... ] I believe I shall need some help with that.

[ Should anyone be interested in that. There's a long pause; Luna smiles faintly. She would turn the feed off at that but something else is on her mind. She's quiet for a little while, putting the sword down carefully down on her desk once more. It's... something difficult, the way her expression shifts. Not something necessarily bad, but— ]

... I turned twenty today. [ She lets that settle for a moment before she continues. Her voice is hushed, a little sombre in some way. She fiddles with her hands as she goes on: ] It's quite funny, you know. Not being a teenager anymore. Well, not just that part, really.

I suppose— I guess I never expected to live past seventeen. [ A short pause, there's a sudden realisation. She smiles weakly. ] Although I realise that doesn't quite funny at all when you say it out loud, does it?

[ More like horrifying, than anything else. Sometimes Luna has that uncanny knack for making people uncomfortable with the things she says; but it's a truth of her home. She was headed to battle before Trench, before Deerington. It was quite possible she'd never make out to the other side of that battle. Even people as young as she was die in war, she understands that. But now, here, she's made it out of her teens and into the first steps of adulthood. It's given her a great deal of cause for ruminating. ]

I've learned a lot about different things; different magic, and ways people live. Especially Muggles. ... I've met a lot of people, made friends. I've gotten to experience a lot of new things in those friendships I didn't have the chance to get to at home. I even met someone who I love very much. [ Her weak smile turns to something fonder, there's warmth there. Perhaps it's quite fitting that Doorway is her Patron, after all. Her relationships are important to her. But don't worry, she's not going to get too mushy over her boyfriend over the network. ]

I know for as difficult life here can be, for as hard Deerington was... this place is a kind of opportunity. It's let me have a great deal of things I didn't think I could have. Things I would have likely never had the chance to experience if I had never come here and stayed in my own world. It's a chance at living. One I didn't think I would get.

[ ... ]

I think that's quite important to remember. When things are difficult. Or when I do miss home sometimes. [ She goes quiet again, lost in her thoughts for a little bit. Even now, trying to pull the positives here in a world that has much stacked against them. Her expression turning to a serene dreaminess as she props her elbows on her desk, chin in her hands. So: ] ... What are you glad for the opportunity for, Sleepers?

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video!

[grice]

Happy birthday, Miss Luna. [ he hasn’t told anyone yet, and if he did it was something very, very recent; with his softened smile in place, he continues: ] I turned thirteen three days ago.

[ what were the odds, right? thirteen, three, on the thirteenth. finally taking that step out of youth and into the beginnings of adolescence. ]

And I’m thankful for living one more year.

[ he knew, and so many others, how easy it was for life to slip right through fingers like water. he almost died plenty times, died here once, had a ticking clock of thirteen more years (woah, coincidence) on his lifespan— he’s happy that he could live for as long as he could. ]

video;

[creidim]

Thank you, Falco. [ There's a warm smile. ] And happy birthday to you, too. Did you do anything nice for it?

[ He's a teenager, now! It's certainly a big thing, she thinks. One should do something nice for stepping into the world of teenage-life. Funny how he's just stepping into that world as Luna steps out, isn't it?

Her smile dims a little. It's still with its warm, but there's something a little more sombre to it. She... does understand that one. ]

That's a very good one, I think. I like that.

video;

[grice]

[ he bows his head and gives his thanks in turn; the little puff from his chest signals that he's happy she's approved of it! somber as it was, when you thought about it— falco looks to bring a brighter smile, once his own quietness has ridden out the pause. ]

I had hot chocolate for breakfast, [ a simple gift to himself, which he seems absolutely delighted about in a very boyish sort of way, ] and I'm learning how to stop bleeding, with blood magic.

[ he's awfully young to be doing anything on his own for a long while, even for becoming an apprentice, supervised or not. but still, if he's going to learn, he's going to start at the basics. either way, he continues on about where it was he's learning such things: ]

I asked the Blood Ministers if I could learn from them a few weeks ago.

[creidim]

Hot chocolate is an excellent breakfast choice—! [ Of course that goes without saying with someone like Luna. She's very much a sweet-fiend, and given how it's still very chilly and snowy out — it's definitely a good choice. ] Peter made me eggs and toast, it's quite nice being cooked for.

[ Peter isn't a great cook, but he's been managing the basics with a little help from her. But he did it all on his own this time! And Luna is certainly very pleased to cooked for; she's smiling away to herself for a few moments. ]

That's lovely. A good thing to learn, I think. [ She nods slowly. ] Considering how dangerous Trench can be, the more help we have the better.

[grice]

[ he needs to show me how, falco can’t help but to think as he imagines the scene: a lanky peter serving miss luna golden toasted slices of bread with eggs— scrambled or sunny? he ends up at an awkward but endearing midway between the two. true romance! and a tip he’ll take for himself. toast and eggs and— juice! or maybe soda? gabi seemed the type to immediately jump for the fizzy ones.

he nods slow and concurring, but with a smile on his face. he’s still got— the scene. in his head. ]

Would you know spells like those, Miss Luna?

[creidim]

[ There was even jam with the toast, too! She was truly treated to an excellent breakfast! Luna's much more fond of tea than juice, but perhaps some fruit juice would be a very good alternative. Breakfast is a little early for anything fizzy.

She's thoughtful for a moment at the question, brow furrowing slightly. ]

There's quite possibly spells like that back home, but it's not my area of expertise. I'm not a Healer, I'm afraid. [ It's definitely a specialisation in terms of Charm-work. And she never wanted to be a Healer when she grew up, anyway. ]

I can mend a broken nose or toe, or splint something. Just minor healing things.

[grice]

[ falco nods; they aren’t complex, most likely, but they tended to injuries all the same (minor ones). he still sees it as a good thing, better than what he could do at the moment, though he voices a desire softly and longingly: ]

I hope I could do those one day . . . ] and who knew, perhaps do greater things. any kind of healing was beginning to interest him, far more than a combative stance ever could. although, there had been something that got his attention, too: ] What is your specialty?

[creidim]

I don't really think I have one? I suppose I have things I'm quite good at, though. [ She certainly wouldn't call herself a specialist in those fields. But she doesn't recognise what she's good at. Probably charms would be a likely strength; and she's gotten rather good at offensive and defensive magic over the years. ]

Like Charms, or Defence Against The Dark Arts. [ There's a small smile, she hums thoughtfully. ] But I really like Magizoology, which isn't so much a kind of magic but rather looking after magical creatures.

[grice]

[ if imagining so many common creatures across his world was an impossible task, he could imagine magical ones. the kinds in stories, unicorns and . . . and so on. he tried not to think about sirens. ]

It suits you, Miss Luna. [ caring for anything would suit her, he thinks. ] Do you get to do that much here?

[ the wildlife was . . . mostly hazardous in trench, he’s assumed. perhaps not as much? ]

[creidim]

[ Wait until Luna tells him one day that she's already covered unicorns in school. ]

Only a little. [ Perhaps not as much as she'd like. But still, she smiles. ] But there's honestly so much to find out about this world, so I'm really just researching just about anything.

But considering the events of this place, it often leads little time to just sit down and get to some studying.

[ Nerd woes. ]

[grice]

[ unicorn………………..

it’s a bummer not to be able to do something you enjoy because of the place. falco had been born into the inverse situation— home hadn’t given him a chance to dip into what he liked to begin with. ]

So you’d have to read every chance you get. [ and offhandedly, he comments: ] I’m doing that with the stories I find— I’m learning about things that I like only now.

[creidim]

A bit, yes. But I like reading, so it's not so terrible. [ Honestly, spending her free time she gets simply reading is a rather nice way to spend that time. There's a little smile and she nods encouragingly. ]

That's very good—! I'm glad you're getting to do that. If you'd ever like recommendations, I can perhaps offer you some. Or I have a book from home you could borrow; a collection of stories, I mean.

[grice]

What kind of stories—?

[ what’s that twinkling in his eyes . . . hope? ]

I like romance, or epics.

[creidim]

Well, they're kind of... children's stories? Mum used to read them to me when I was young. So they're not very long, but a lot of them have adventures. But they're mostly lessons.

[ There's a pause. ]

I suppose there's a little bit of romance in some of them. Although The Warlock's Hairy Heart is mostly just very sad.

[grice]

[ children's stories, is the keyword. and maybe sad romance because it's still a heartstring puller. ]

I'd like to see them, if I could— May I?

[creidim]

Of course you can, Falco. It's why I offered.

[ She smiles, a little amused. ]

It's nice to have the chance to share them, after all. Whenever you'd like to visit, you're welcome to read.

[grice]

[ it sounds like a deal, then! ]

I can bring you your gift on the way over?

[creidim]

[ A good deal! Although, she blinks at the mention of a gift: ]

Oh, Falco. You don't need to get me anything.

[grice]

What’s your favorite kind of food?

[ he’s not listening 🙉 ]